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limpido!! NTED - IWI/120556: (C, 3M l @uiten ltutte @anni @fitta JEROME MAYBERGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. LettersPatent No. 72,517, dated December 24, 1867.

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TO VALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that I, JEROME MAYBERGER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Banjos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure I represents a front or face view, partly in section, ot` my improved banjo.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same, the plane ot` section being indicated by the line 'a5 x, fig. I.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new manner of arranging the sound-board of a banjo, and consists in the use of an annular drum or box, which is covered by a board having S-shaped holes, similar to those in the soundboards of violins. The parchment head is secured to a ring, which is fitted upon the sound-board enough above the same to permit the escape ot' the vibrating air between the said head and the drum, while the circular open space in the centre of the drum serves as a channel for a. new supply of air.

A represents the handle or stem of a banjo, thc lower end of which is secured to an annular drum, B,in any suitable manner. The upper plate a of the drum is provided with S-shaped holes. The other sides of the drum are all completely closed. C is the parchment head. It is laid over a wooden ring, b, and around a metalvwire ring, e, its outer end being bent up again, as shown in tig. 2. A metal ring, c2, clamps the overlapped portion of the parchment, and is forced upon the ring c by means of bolts e e, which are hook-shaped ou top, and

ywhich are fitted through- L-shaped plates, L, that are secured to the wooden ring as is clearly shown in tig. 2. By means of the nutsfon the bolts e the ring d can be forced more upon the ring c, and thereby the parchment will be more rmly clamped. The head which is thus formed by the parts C, b, c, d, e, 7L, andf, is provided with a series of small supports, g g, which are fitted in the under side of the wooden ring b, and which tit into small holes that are provided for the purpose in the auxiliary sound-board a. The strings D D are secured to the handle and drum in the ordinary manner, and are stretched byabridge, E, which rests loose on the head C. When played upon, the bridge will prevent the central part ofthe head from vibrating, while the under part of the same will vibrate. The air under the centre of thehead is trus at rest, and will therefore be allowed to come up through the hole in the centre of the drum to supply the air which is driven out by the vibrations of the outer part of the head C and of' the auxiliary sound-board a. The vibrating air will partly enter the drum, but most of it will escape through the spaces which are left between the'supports g g.

Very clear and harmonious sounds will be created on this instrument, and they can be made more powerful than on any of the banjos now in use. By removing the strings the head and its appendages can be taken cti` the drum for repairing and other purposes.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The annular drum B, when provided with a'perforated sound-board, a, substantially as and for the purpose sct forth.

2. The head C, when constructed as described, and when provided with supports g, in combination with the annular drum B, the same having a perforated sound-board, as set forth.

., JEROME MAYBERGER. Witnesses:

' WM. F. MCNAMARA,

ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

